Underreamer



F. A. HAUGH.

UNDERREAMEH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. \9x9.

Patented J an. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FRANK A. nation. 0F

WINFIELD, KANSAS.

UNDERBEAMER.

Application filed March 10.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. FRANK A. HAUGII, a citizen of the United States. residing at Winfield. in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underreamers. of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawm s.

This invention relates to well drilling tools. and particularly to underreamers I'nderreamers are used in order to enlarge the bore of a well beneath the well casing, and the main object of t-his invention is the provision of a very simply constructed underreamer which will automatically expand when it has been lowered into the well and past the lower end of the well casing, and which will be automatically contracted when it is raised and drawn upward through the well casing.

And a further object s to provide an underreamer so constructed that sufficient cutting surface will be provided as to avoid any danger of leaving lumps or rough places on the wall of the bore which might impede or absolutely prevent the lowering of the well easing m deep wells.

A further object is to provide a reamer of the character described of particularly strong construction so as to stand the work to which it is subjected.

A further object is to provide cutters which, when expanded, have portions disposed upon the exterior of the body of the reamer and which. when expanded, are inserted within a downwardly projecting lip or flange of the body of the reamer so that the upper portion of the cutter is strengthened and supported both upon the inner and the outer part of the cutter.

A further object is to provide a reamer of this character which may be readily set so as to enter the well casing and will ride easily through the well casing, both when it is being lowered and when it is being raised. i

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

:My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a reamer constructed in accordance with my invention:

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan iew of the construction as in Fig. 1;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 281.602.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the hits contracted and the reamer ready to be inserted in a well casing;

Fig. l is a section on the line -ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the bits: and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hanger rod and the hanger block.

Referring to these drawin it will be seen that the body 10 of t e reamer is solid at its upper end and formed to be en gaged by the drill supporting rods or other like devices. The lower portion of the body is cylindrical for its entire extent. but adjacent the lower end of the body 10, the body is preferably diametrically enlarged. as at 11. and this enlargement at its lower edge is upwardly and inwardly beveled, as at 12, so as to leave a downwardly extending lip. The upper end of the enlargement '11 is beveled upwardly and centrally, as at 13. Below the overhanging lip or inclined lower face 12 of the portion 11, the body 10 is downwardly and centrally ta pered slightly, as at 14.

The body 10 is hollow for the greater portion of its length. and to this end the body 10 is formed with a relatively largebore 15 extending from the. lower end of the body for a certain distance. Above this, the here is contracted, as at 16. for a distauce and then again the bore is contracted. as at 17, for a distance. A slightly beveled shoulder 18 is formed at the junction of the bores '15 and 16, and a shoulder 19 is formed at the junction of the portions 16" and 17. Intersecting the relatively small counterbore 17 is a passage :20 which is disposed tangential toa. circle concentric to the bore and'adapted to receive; a pin 21. Also intersecting the bore 17but not passing entirely through the body, is a longitudinally disposed slot 22.

Disposed within the hollow interior of the body is a cutter supporting rod or lumger 23. and disposed within the bore 17 is a head Ql through which the rod 23 slides. this head being held in place from downward movement by the pin .21. The upper end of the rod:23 is provided with a lint or head 25, and disposed between the head .25 and the supporting head E L-is a coiled compression spring 26. \Vhen this rod 23 is pulled downward. the spring will be compressed. If strain on the hanger or rod 23 is reliev d.

the spring will raise the rod. The lower end of this hanger rod 23 is, provided with a head 27, which is screw-threaded, for engagement with an I-bolt or like member 28, which fQI'lDS a means whereby this hanger 23 may be drawn downward. I a r Coacting with the lower end of the manner body IOarea pluralityot' cutters or bits, each designated generally I have illustrated three of these cutters, but it will be understood that more cutters might ne;v used. These cutters toward their lower ends are segmental. in cross section. as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that when the cutters are disposed with their upper ends within the bore of the body 10, thecutters will have their ed es in approximate contact and will togctvr form a coniplete circle or substantially a complete circleq Each cutter at; its lower end is downwardlyand outwardly beveled as at 30, and the outer vsurface at the lower end of the cutter is outwardly flared, as at, 31. so as to form a cutting edge, Each cutter is formed with an arcuate groove 32 extending downward from the upper end of the cutter and adapted to receive the lower portion of the wall of the body 10. That portion 33 of the cutter exterior to the groove 32 at its uppen edge is downwardly and outwardly beveled. as at 34. to fit the outwardly and downwardly extending .lip formed by the inclined shoulder 12 so that when the cutter is raised the lower end wall of the groove 32 bears against the, lower end of the body 10 and the inclincd-sm'face 34 bears against the inclined surface 12, and thus the cutter is interlocked with the body. The upper end of the portion 3301 each cutter is outwardly and downwardly beveled outward of the bevel 34, as at 36, That portion of the cutter lying inward of the groove 32 extends above the portion of the cutter and theshank 37 formed is cut away.:as at 38. on each sideso as to form notches or recesses and above-these notches 38. ashoulderfiil is formed, and then the shank extends straight upward and then upward and inward, asiatsltl. Mounted upon .the hanger 23 and normally resting upon the head 27 whcn the reamer is..in action. is a hanger blockg=41 having a central annular hub. and a disk-like portion radially slotted. at a illllrality of points, as at 42, each oftheseslots 42 having parallelside walls and being of sufficient width to receive that jiortion 38? of the shank of the cutter hctwccn the notches 38, the disk 43 on ea h side of the slot 42 enter: ing the notches or recesses 39 in a manner which will be obvious from Fig. 4. Thus, the several cutters are suspended fronrt'he hanger block 41 andwliilc tlu v have certain freedom of movement radiallyinward and outward. they will move vertically with the hanger rod 24 and with the hanger block 41.

r1 l gr Of mourse, the inner tace of each cutter is formed with a; longitiuli ally extcndin 'g concave chailneldl to accommodate the hub of the haugerblocltl it a In the actual use of this inrenti n, by removing the pin 21 it, is possible to withdraw the hangcinrod 23 entirely from within the rcamcr body 10. The everal cutters may then be engaged with the, hanger block ,41 in the manner dcserihedaud ;the parts inserted. within the reamer ho ly. Then an instrument of .any desired kind is thrust through the slot 22 and engages beneath the head 24. and this head is raised upward until this head :3 may bccngaged ay t he pin 21 and firmly held in place. liud er these ('ll'tlllllfiltljllfl'fl,'tl downward movement of the cutters and,thehanger,23 uiill cause a compres ion of thespring 2G and annual release, the spring will act to i etract the hangel; and the cutters. Thc reamcr is now ready: for use and previous to inserting it in :nwcl casing. the Lholt 28 which may be attached to a short length of wire. a hook, or otherdcvicc is pulled downward so asto carry the cutters downward until the upper ends of the portions 33 of the cutters. are below the lower end of thclmdy 10. Under these circunustauccs, the lowcrcnds of the cutters maybe forced inward so that the cuttcl's will be entirely within the cylinder dctincd bv the exterior of thc reaiuer. A split ring 45 iszithen placedaround the cutters so as to hold them K'Qldtltll'tlltl The rea ncr is nowinserted within the upper 9nd of ,the well casing; which (is of a si're just sufiicient to fit the enlarged portion L and then the reamer is lowered intothe casing. 'hcn the upper cnd ;o ti tlieuvell casing strikes the ring 45, it shiftsit uiwai'd until eventually ihe ring tlisiuiscil uho ve tlic shoulder 13, but thewell easing, course, prevents the expansion ofthe cutters; The reamer is further lqwered intotliewell until the cutters pass the lower end ofg the avell casingand as sooiras this occurgthe spring 2 6 will draw ,upwartl on the hanger 23 ,and this will draw thecut upward tsh tliat the upper cm; s of the i ions 33 anteagage within the overningin lip 12, flsjllll5- trated; in Fi'gi 1;. thus logging thercuttei's securely in placea nd itmiaiagnma; very rigidly to their worlc; twill hea oted that the tapering surface 174 permits the cutters to 'movc upwaial or downward relative to the bodv 10 without sticking g. a a

it will be seen that the eutters bc ing segu-iental in form and; cxtending together l'hrough nearly a complete circle offer a slit"; ficicnt cutting surface after the cutters n bits have been expanded to ,avpid any dunger of leaying luuihsor rough places on, the wall oi the wrll hore. 'lhc peed in; con

stl'nction of the upper-part of the cutters or i it hits performs two or three functions. The

upper end of the portion 33 of each bit extends in beneath the downwardlv extending or overhanging lip of the body 10 and gives the hit strength while it is operatin The portion 31' projectino out beyond the ciriuut'erence of the lJOtf'. strikes against the casing of the well when the reamer is drawn upward. which thus acts to force the bits downward relative to the body of the reamer so the hits may fold inward and come out of the hole automatically. When the bits are drawn downward and contracted. the upper portion of the outside of the bits is larger in. diameter than the contracted lower ends of the hits so that part of the cutter rides against the well casing, holding the edges away from the surface of the well casing and preventing them from catching in the joints of the pi )e. 'hen the hits are drawn downward so that the top ends of the bits above the hanger block 41 come out of the bore 16 of the bod v.- the upper ends of the bits may rock within the large portion 15 of the bore. allowing the lower ends of the bits to move inward to thus enter the well casing. the upper ends of the hits resting against the shoulder 18. thus rcleasin the spring tension so that the hits will not press against the interior of the well casing too hard. As soon as the hits pass beyond the lower edge of the well casing. the spring forces the upper ends of the bits to pass upwardly into the relatively smaller bore 16, thereby rocking the hits on the hanger block 41 and the fulcrum and expanding the bits 50 that they will move upward and over the outside of the tapered face 14 of the body 10. Preferably, though not necessarily. a loose ferrule -16 is dis- )osed between the hanger block 11 and the head 24 so as to hold the head '24 up above the cutteis at all times to keep the tension on the spring.

It will be noted that the several bits or cutters are carried by the hanger block 41 which is so constructed that it will rotate upon the hanger rod 23. Thus the bits are swivelly connected to thebody and can turn around on the body and be in operative position at any time and thus avoid any accidental twisting or breakage of the hits while, the tool is turned back and forth in the holewhen operating.

It is also to be noted that bottom of the body 10. fitting as it does into the grooves 32 of the cutters when the cutters are in use. holds the cutters in expanded position and braces the cutters firmly against any inward pressure.

1 elaini:

l. A realner comprising a hollow body open at its lower end, a longitudinally movable hanger rod mounted within the body and having a head at this end, the head being formed with radially extending reeesses, a sprin urging the hanger rod upward, and a pliu-ality of bits each having a shank extending up into the hollow body and insertihle into a corresponding recess. the shanks havinrr laterally projecting portions having rot-ting engagement with the head and being freely shiftable out oi engagement with the head when the hanger rod is depressed to carry the shanks out of the hollow body.

2. A reamer com n'ising a hollow body open at its lower em a longitudinally mova )le hanger rod mounted within the hollow body and having a head at its lower end. the head having radially disposed recesses. a plurality of bits having shanks extending up into the hollow body. each of said shanks being formed to engage. in a corresponding recess in the head and having outwardly extending portions above and below the head and having rocking engagement therewith when the shanks are disposed within the head.

i. A reamer comprising a hollow body open at its lower end. a longitudinally movable hanger rod mounted within the hollow body. a spring urging the hanger rod upward. and a plurality of bits having shanks extending up into the hollow body and operatively engaged by said hanger rod, each of said bits having rocking engagement with the hanger rod for radial movement, and each bit being formed with a recess to receive the lower end of the hollow'body. the body being provided with an annular, overhanging exterior lip to engage partially over the upper ends of the hits exterior to said recess.

1. A reamer comprising a hollow body open at its lower end, and a plurality of spring-retracted bits having shanks extending into the hollow body. the bits having portions normally extending upward upon the exterior of the body when the bit-s are expanded, and the body having portions extending partially over the upper ends of said upwardly extending exterior portions.

'5. A reamerincluding a hollow body open at its lower end. a pluralityof longitudinally movable bits segmental in cross section and having upwardly extending shanks, the upper ends of the bits being arcuately recessed to receive the lower end of the body, the upper end face of each hit exteriorly to said recess being downwardly and outwardly beveled, and the body being formed with an annular enlargement. the lower end of which extends downward and outward to form an overhanging li) partially overlying and engaging with the upwardly beveled end face of each bit.

(S. A realner including a hollow hodyopen at its lower end. a plurality of longitudinally movable bits segmental in cross section and having upwardly extending shanks,

the upper ends of the bits being arcuately recessed to receive the lower-end of the body the upper, end face of each bit exterioi 1 to said recess being downwardly and outwardly beveled, and the body being formed with an annular enlargement. the lower end of which extends downward and outward to form an overhanging lip .partially overlying and engaging with the upwardly beveled end face of each bit. a hanger rod disposed within the body, a spring urging the hanger rod upwarthand a hanger block i'otatably mounted upon the rod and having rocking engagement with the shanks of the bits.

7 A reamer comprising a body formed at one end with a relatively enlarged bore and a relatively smaller bore extending therefrom, a spring supported within the hollow body at its upper end, a longitudinally movable hanger rod supported by the spring and having a head at its lower end, a hanger block rotatably mounted upon the head at its lower end and having radial notches, and a plurality of bits, segmental in cross section, and each formed with an arouate recess at its upper end ada ted to receive the lower end of the body, tliat poition of the bit inward of the recess being upwardly extended to form a shank and formed at its upper end to engage in the notches of the hanger block and engage with the hanger block. f

8. A reamer comprising a body formed at one end with a relatively enlarged bore and a relatively smaller bore extending therefrom, a spring supported withinthe hollow bod y at its upper end, a longitudinally movable han er rod supported by the spring and having a head atits lower end, irhanger block rotatably mounted upon the head at its lower end and having radial notches, and a plurality of bits, segmental in cross section, and each formed with an arcuate recess at its upper end ada )ted to receive the lower end of the body, that portion of the bit inward of the recess bein r upwardly extended to form a shank an formed at its upper endto engage in the notches of thehanger bloci, and engage with the hanger block. the body being formed exteriorly with a diametrically enlarged portion undercut atits lower end, and the upper end of each bit being upwardly and inwardly beveled to engage beneath said undercut portion but project beyond it.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. HAUGH.

\Vitnesses DOUG. BoUnnE'rTE, JEWEL MOUOHE. 

